Magna Sequentia II. A quick step through J. S. Bachs keyboard dances.
If playlists had been available in the 18th century,\xa0Magna Sequentia IIwould undoubtedly have enjoyed an enthusiastic reception, with its varied track list embodying a theme of music by association. In her second of three\xa0Magna Sequentias, pianist Sonia Rubinsky leads with J. S. Bach\u2019s Overture in the French Style and follows by building around it a grand suite of Bach\u2019s dances for keyboard. The programme of 17 movements illustrates the different styles and expressive moods of Bach\u2019s dance writing. Taken together, the collection is an international potpourri that blends the ornate and sophisticated French style, the more straightforward and virtuosic Italian style, and the stricter contrapuntal writing of the German style, with a touch of England thrown in for good measure. Raymond Bisha presents the introduction to this release.